No start date set for flights

Qatar Airways has not announced a start date for the flights, but the airline's chief executive Akbar Al Baker said the routes would begin by 2018.

"With today's network announcement, we will be able to connect more people to more places than any other Gulf airline," he said.

"We look forward to welcoming these destinations in 2017-18."

Canberra Airport general manager Stephen Byron said with commencement dates yet to be locked down, another international carrier could start direct flights to the city before Qatar Airways.

"I don't think anyone will beat Qatar in terms of a first service to Doha, but clearly it's possible that an airline could announce a service to a different route that might commence before that time," he said.

Mr Byron said Qatar's service to Doha would almost certainly leave later in the day, similar to Singapore Airlines flights.

"That's taking advantage of Canberra Airport's curfew-free status, which has been critical to the development of our international flight operations," he said.